Panasonic TZ95 vs Sony RX100 IV

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ95 (called Panasonic ZS80 in some regions) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in February 2019 and June 2015. Both the TZ95 and the RX100 IV are fixed lens compact cameras that are based on a 1/2.3-inch (TZ95) and an one-inch (RX100 IV) sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 20 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ95 and the
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors,
their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Panasonic TZ95 vs Sony RX100 IV

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Panasonic TZ95 and the Sony RX100 IV is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The TZ95 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the RX100 IV is
only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Sony RX100 IV is notably smaller (23 percent) than the Panasonic TZ95. Moreover, the RX100 IV is markedly lighter (9 percent) than the TZ95. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the TZ95 nor the RX100 IV are weather-sealed.

Concerning battery life, the TZ95 gets 380 shots out of its DMW-BLG10 battery,
while the RX100 IV can take 280 images on a single charge of its NP-BX1 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left
comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and
choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The TZ95 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 55 percent) than the RX100 IV, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Panasonic TZ95 vs Sony RX100 IV

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Panasonic TZ95 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Sony RX100 IV
an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the RX100 IV is 314 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 2.7. The sensor in the TZ95 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the RX100 IV offers a 3:2 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Panasonic TZ95 offers a higher
resolution of 20.2 megapixels, compared with 20 MP of the Sony RX100 IV.
This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel
(with a pixel pitch of 1.18μm versus 2.41μm for the RX100 IV). However, it should be noted that the TZ95 is much more recent (by 3 years and 8 months) than the RX100 IV, and its sensor
will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the TZ95 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ95 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 3200, which can be extended to ISO 80-6400.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV are ISO 125 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Panasonic TZ95»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic TZ95

Sony RX100 IV«

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

4K/30p

22.8

12.6

591

70

Sony RX100 IV

Canon SX740«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Canon SX740

Canon G7 X«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

23.0

12.7

556

71

Canon G7 X

Fujifilm X-A5«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/15p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-A5

Fujifilm XF10«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/15p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm XF10

Nikon D3500«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Nikon D3500

Panasonic FT7«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic FT7

Panasonic LX100 II«»

Four Thirds

16.8

4736

3552

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic LX100 II

Panasonic TZ200«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic TZ200

Panasonic TZ90«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

19.1

10.6

106

36

Panasonic TZ90

Panasonic FZ1000«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

4K/30p

22.1

11.7

517

64

Panasonic FZ1000

Sony RX100 VI«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Sony RX100 VI

Sony HX99«»

1/2.3

18.0

4896

3672

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Sony HX99

Sony RX100 V«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

4K/30p

22.8

12.4

586

70

Sony RX100 V

Sony A6000«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

24.1

13.1

1347

82

Sony A6000

Sony RX100 III«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

22.4

12.3

495

67

Sony RX100 III

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

Feature comparison: Panasonic TZ95 vs Sony RX100 IV

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder.
However, the one in the RX100 IV offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the TZ95 (2359k vs 1166k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Panasonic TZ95 and Sony RX100 IV in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Mech Shutter Speed

Shutter Flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Panasonic TZ95»

2330

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic TZ95

Sony RX100 IV«

2359

n

3.0

1228

tilting

n

1/2000s

16.0

Y

Y

Sony RX100 IV

Canon SX740«»

-

n

3.0

922

tilting

n

1/3200s

10.0

Y

Y

Canon SX740

Canon G7 X«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/2000s

6.5

Y

Y

Canon G7 X

Fujifilm X-A5«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/4000s

6.0

Y

n

Fujifilm X-A5

Fujifilm XF10«»

-

n

3.0

1040

fixed

Y

1/4000s

6.0

Y

n

Fujifilm XF10

Nikon D3500«»

optical

n

3.0

921

fixed

n

1/4000s

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D3500

Panasonic FT7«»

1170

n

3.0

1040

fixed

n

1/1300s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic FT7

Panasonic LX100 II«»

2764

n

3.0

1240

fixed

Y

1/4000s

11.0

n

Y

Panasonic LX100 II

Panasonic TZ200«»

2330

n

3.0

1240

fixed

Y

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic TZ200

Panasonic TZ90«»

1166

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic TZ90

Panasonic FZ1000«»

2359

n

3.0

921

swivel

n

1/4000s

12.0

Y

Y

Panasonic FZ1000

Sony RX100 VI«»

2359

n

3.0

1229

tilting

Y

1/2000s

24.0

Y

Y

Sony RX100 VI

Sony HX99«»

638

n

3.0

922

tilting

Y

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Sony HX99

Sony RX100 V«»

2359

n

3.0

1229

tilting

n

1/2000s

24.0

Y

Y

Sony RX100 V

Sony A6000«»

1440

n

3.0

922

tilting

n

1/4000s

11.0

Y

n

Sony A6000

Sony RX100 III«»

1440

n

3.0

1229

tilting

n

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Sony RX100 III

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The TZ95
has a touchscreen, while the RX100 IV has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example,
for setting the focus point.

Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly
appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while
others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature
an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or
shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

Both the TZ95 and the RX100 IV have zoom lenses built in. The TZ95 has a 24-720mm f/3.3-6.4 optic and the RX100 IV offers a 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Panasonic and Sony provide the same view at the wide-angle end, but the Sony has less tele-photo reach at the long end. The RX100 IV offers the faster maximum aperture.

The TZ95 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the RX100 IV uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison: Panasonic TZ95 vs Sony RX100 IV

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ95 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Panasonic TZ95»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Panasonic TZ95

Sony RX100 IV«

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony RX100 IV

Canon SX740«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon SX740

Canon G7 X«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon G7 X

Fujifilm X-A5«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

Y

Fujifilm X-A5

Fujifilm XF10«»

-

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Fujifilm XF10

Nikon D3500«»

Y

mono

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

Y

Nikon D3500

Panasonic FT7«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic FT7

Panasonic LX100 II«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Panasonic LX100 II

Panasonic TZ200«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic TZ200

Panasonic TZ90«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic TZ90

Panasonic FZ1000«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Panasonic FZ1000

Sony RX100 VI«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony RX100 VI

Sony HX99«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony HX99

Sony RX100 V«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony RX100 V

Sony A6000«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony A6000

Sony RX100 III«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Sony RX100 III

The TZ95 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic.
In contrast, the RX100 IV has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the RX100 IV was succeeded by the Sony RX100 IV. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official
Panasonic and Sony websites.

Review summary: Panasonic TZ95 vs Sony RX100 IV

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Panasonic TZ95 and the Sony RX100 IV? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ95:

Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.

Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.53x vs 0.22x).

Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.

More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.

Longer lasting: Can take more shots (380 versus 280) on a single battery charge.

More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in June 2015).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the RX100 IV is the clear winner of the contest (12 : 8 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

TZ95 08:12 RX100 IV

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic TZ95 and the Sony RX100 IV place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best Superzoom Camera and Best Travel-Zoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the TZ95 or the RX100 IV. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews: Panasonic TZ95 vs Sony RX100 IV

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge,
reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

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